Antifriction side bearing



Nov. 17, 1931. J. F. ocoNNoR ANTIFRIGTION SIDE BEARING Filed Feb. 5, 1926 man Patented Nov. 17, 1931 UNITED f STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN r. oCoNNon, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGNon ro W. H HINEB, INC., or CHICAGO,

ILLINOIs A CORPORATION or 'DELAWARE ANTIFRICTION SIDE BEARING Application led February 5, 1926. Serial No. 86,162.`

'lhis invention relates to anti-friction side bearings. Y r

One object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and eflicient anti-friction bearing, especially adapted for railwaycar side bearings, in which the parts are so arranged that thev anti-friction element is automatically returned to normal centered position when free from load.

Another object of the "invention is to providea side bearing'of the character above referred to in which a vertically adjustable bearing plate is utilized, in conjunction with centering means which operate to maintain the anti-friction element in assembled relation with `respect to the retainer, which centering means automatically operate to compensate for the changes in position of the anti-friction element and the bearing plate when the same are adjusted, and are yieldable `to permit removaly of the anti-friction element from the housing to permit access to the adjustable bearing plate.

Other and further objects of the invention will more clearly appear from thedescription and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings forming aV part 'of this specification, Fig. 1 is a'vertical sectional View taken through-the ends ofthe body and truck bolsters of a railway car, Vshowing my improvements in connection therewith in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a top planview of the bearing illustrated in Fig. l, showing "the same detached from the truck bolster. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of ra slightly different embodiment of the invention, showing a fragment of the truck bolster, to which the bearing is connected, in section. And Fig. 4 is an end elevational'view of the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3.

Referring first to Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, l() denotes the underside of the body bolster and l1 Vthe upper side of the corresponding truck bolster. The improved side bearing is shown as applied to the truck bolster and comprises broadly a mounting, retainer, or housing A; an anti-friction element B; an adjustable bearing plate C; and centering means D-D The` housing or retainer A comprises a generally rectangular box-like member havl ing side walls 20-20, and end walls 2l--21, the .housing being Open at the bottom. The side walls of said housing are inwardly o'set toward each Vother as. indicated at 22-22 vto provide at each' side of the housing oppositely disposed abutments 23-23 which diverge from the top of the housing toward the bottom of the same, as shownin the draw ings. Each side wall is further provided with longitudinally spaced inwardly extending lugs 24-24, the Outer surfaces of each of which terminate substantially flush with the widest portions of the abutments 23`-23. Each side wall further is provided with a centrally .disposed vertically arranged slot or opening 25 to permit the insertion of a bar as hereinafter more particularly described. The end walls 21--21 are similar in arrangement except for their opposite disposition.

Each end wall, adjacent the lower portion thereof is offset outwardly to provide a pair of transversely aligned spaced pockets 26-26, and each end wall on its inner side above `the pockets is provided with a depres-' sion 27 conforming to the curvature of the anti-friction element B. Below the pockets 26-26, each endwall is provided with a centrally .arranged extension 28, having -a chamber 29 formed in its undersurfaoe as4 4, is disposed in the housing between the longi- `tudinally`spaced lugs 251-24, which restrain movement thereof longitudinally of thehoufsing,`the base plate C resting upon a plurality of shims 33 which are also arranged between the lugs 24-24, removal or insertion of'shims effecting adjustment of the vertical height of the bearing plate C.

The anti-friction element B, as shown, is

in the form of a plain cylindrical rollerwhdl s disposed in the housing so as to roll hack and forth longitudinally of the housing upon the bearing plate C.

The centering means D-D, comprise two spring elements, one of which is disposed at one end of the housing and bears upon the roller B at one side, and the other which is disposed at'the opposite end of the housing and bears upon the roller B at its opposite side. The spring elements D-D are identically similar in construction, except for their opposite disposition, and only one of the same will be described herein in detail, similar reference characters being utilized tov designate like parts of both. Each spring element D comprises a bar 34 which extends transversely of the housing and is adapted to bear upon the roller B at a point above its axial center, the bar 34 merging at its opposite ends with side arm portions 35-35 which eX- tend downwardly toward the bottom of the bearing, each of the side aim portions 35-35 vbeing provided with several concentrically Vdisposed helices 36 forming helical coiled poi'- tions 37, which fit snugly into the pockets 26-26 provided in each end wall of the housing, the end portions 38-38 of the side arm members 35-35 projecting outwardly beneath the central extension 28, into the chamber 29, where the same are held in position. As before stated the spring members at the opposite ends of the housing are similar in all respects, one of said springs bearing upon each side of the anti-friction element B.

In operation, assuming movement of the anti-friction element to the right as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l the arm portions of the right hand spring will be moved toward the adjacentend of the housing along with the roller. while the arm portions of the left hand spring are held'ag'ainst following the roller by engagement with the abutments 23-23 at the left hand end of the housing. During this'action the coils of the right hand lspring member are flexed, and when load is removed from the roller, the reactive force of the spring serves to return the roller B to central position. Movement of the roller B toward the left will displace the. arm portions of the-left hand spring, while the right hand spring is prevented from following the roller by engagement -with the right hand abutments, the left hand spring serving to -return the anti-friction element'to central position. p p

' When it is desired to adjust theheight of the bearing plate C, when the truckV is re- .,moved fromthe car, a bar may be inserted yinto an opening 25 and engagebeneath the shims, downward pressure upon said bar serving to press the roller out of the housing against the pressure of the spring members which serve to retain the same therein, after whichV access may be had to the bearing plate,

andshims added or removed as desired,to adjust the vertical height of-said plate, after which the roller may be pressed into position between the springs.

An important feature of the invention resides in the resilient centering means which permit removal of the roller from the housing so that the height of the bearing plate may be adjusted as desired, after which the roller may be re-inserted into the housing, and it should be observed that the spring members automatically compensate for the diiferent vertical adjustments of the roller by yielding or spreading as conditions require.

Referring now to the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4, this embodiment of the invention includes broadly a housing A, an anti-friction element B, an adjustable bearing plate C; spring D; and a transmitting member E.

Although only one half of the bearing is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, it will be understood that the opposite end of the bearing which is not shown is identically similar to that which is shown and described hereinafter, except for its opposite disposition.

The housing A includes end walls 5() and side walls 5l, each of the side walls being inwardly offset to provide longitudinally spaced vertically extending abutments 52--52 at one side of central position. Said side walls are further provided with horizontally -grooves 54 adapted for the reception of the slide or transmitting member E. The side walls also have centrally disposed openings as indicated at 55to permit insertion of a bar. The housing A is open at the bottom and is adapted to t upon a base plate 56, the housing being provided with lugs 57-57 through which are extended rivets 58-5S which secure the housing A to the base plate 56. The base plate may be secured to the truck bolster by means of rivets as indicated at 59. 'The bearing plate C', and the shims 60 are the same as the bearing plate C and shims 33 heretofore referred to in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. The anti-friction element B is also similar to the anti-friction element B described in connection with said figures.

The slides or transmitting members, only one of which is shown, are disposed at opposite sides of the roller, each slide comprises a plate 6l having laterally extending flanges 67-67 which slidably it into the roller, and the portions at each side of the curved face of the transmitting member being adapted to abut against the vertically disposed abutments 52-52 so as to limit the inward movement thereof.V The transmitting member to the rear of the face 68 is provided with a transversely extending slot 69, adapted for a purpose which presently will' be described.

The spring element D comprises a transversely extending bar portion 70, arm portions 71, coil portions T2-712, and end portions 73 73, the end portions 73 projecting into recesses T4-74 formed in the securing lugs 57-57. The transverse bar portion 70 of the spring fits into the transversely eX- tending slot 69 of the slide as clearly shown in the drawings.

In operation, assuming movement of the roller to the right as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, said roller abuts against the right hand member E', causing outward movement of the same, which due to the connection with transverse bar 70 of the spring D will flex the coils of said spring, the energy stored in the spring due to its displacement serving to restore the anti-friction element to central position when free from load. Movement of the anti-friction element in a left hand direction of course will operate in a like manner upon the slide at the opposite end of the housing, as will be understood. The adjustment of the bearing plate may be made in the same manner as described with reference to the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the slides or transmitting members serve to maintain the roller in the housing by reason of their engagement therewith above the axial center of the roller.

While I have herein shown and described what I now considei` the preferred manner of carrying out the invention, the same is merely illustrative, and I contemplate all changes and modilication that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim: y Y

1. In an anti-friction bearing, the combination with a housing having side and end walls said side walls being oiset to provide oppositely disposed central abutments, and said end walls having oii'set pockets, the bottom of said housing beingr open; of oppositely arranged resilient centering members disposed at opposite ends of said housing cach of said members being provided with coiled portions fitting in its related pocket, and having one end portion engaging certain of said central abutments, and an end'portion at the opposite side of said coiled portion; a base plate secured to said housing for closing the same, and serving to anchor said resilient members; and an adjustable bearing plate and anti-friction element adapted to be disposed in said housing, in operative position relative to said centering members Whereby the same engage said element above its center to retain the same in said housing, said resilient centering members being yieldable to permit insertion and removal of said element and plate.

2. In an anti-friction bearing of the character described, the combination with a housing provided with side and end walls, each of said end walls being outwardly offset to provide transversely disposed pockets; of a bearing plate in said housing; an anti-friction element adapted to roll upon said bearing plate toward and from the end walls of said housing; and a spring member arranged at each side of said anti-friction element and in the path of lmovement thereof, each of said spring members including a transversely eX- tending bar bearing on said anti-friction element, side arm portions, and end portions anchored to the housing, there being coil portions betWeen the side arm portions and the end portions seated in said pockets for urging said bar in a direction toward said antifriction element.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 3rd day of February 1926.

JOHN F. OCONNOR. 

